Neck-yoke center.



No. 648,l2l. Patented Apr. 24, 1900. .c. H. CARPENTER. 4

NEGK YOKE CENTER.

(Application filed Jan. 15, 1900.)

(No Model.)

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

CHARLES H. CARPENTER, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

NECK-YOKE CENTER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 648,121, dated April24, 1900.

Application filed January 15, 1900- Serial No. 1,527. (No model.)

To ctZZ whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, CHARLES II. CARPENTER, a citizen of the UnitedStates, residingin the city of Chicago, county of Cook, and State ofIllinois have invented a new and useful Im provement in Neck-YokeCenters, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to neck-yoke centers or holdbacks which areadjustable to yokepoles or cross-bars of different diameters; and theobject of my invention is to provide an adjustable yoke-center havinglightness, flexibility, and compactness, combined with great strengthand durability. I attain this object by the mechanism illustrated in theaccompanying drawings, inwhioh Figure 1 is a front View of a yoke andyokecenter embodying myinvention. Fig. 2 is a perspective view of theyoke-center bent to form the clasp-loop. Fig. 3 is a transversesectional View of the yoke-center doubled to form the loop, as in Figs.1 and 2. Said Fig. 3 shows the disposition of the reinforcing metalliclining and the eye formed therein around the removable bolt of thestirrup.

Fig. 4 is a face view of the metallic lining straightened, except at theeye wherein the stirrup-bolt is inclosed. The position of the leatherstrips relatively to said linin g is shown in dotted lines.

Similar letters refer to sim ilar parts th roughout the several views.

The neck-yoke center a comprises the outer.

layer 12, consisting of leather, the lining 0, consisting of metal, andthe layers 01 01, consisting, preferably, of leather and varying innumber according to the thickness and strength required. Said layers 79and c are of sufficient length to form a loop for inclosing the yokecross-bar e and to form also a depending portion or butt f, whereto thepole of the vehicle may be attached. At said butt fsaid layers b, c, andcl dare substantially coextensive and are correspondingly apertured, soas to form the eye or opening g for receiving and supporting the forwardextremity of the pole of the vehicle. The chief function of said layers01 d is to thicken said butt f, so as to provide agreaterbearing-surface for the said pole and also to give an appearance ofstrength to the yoke-center. In

order to prevent abrasion of said pole by the metal lining c, the latteris preferably cut away at said eye g to a diameter somewhat greater thanthe corresponding apertures in the layers 1) and d d. The layerscomposing said butt f arefastened together by means of rivets, and theinner layers (1 cl taper off toward the looped extremity of theyoke-center and terminate a short distance above the said eye g. Thelining 0 consists of a flexible sheet of metal and is preferablygalvanized to prevent rust. Said lining cand outer layer 1) are ofsubstantially the same size and outline; but the edges of said outerstrip project slightly beyond said lining, thereby preventing the latterfrom coming into contact with exterior objects and also rendering saidlining substantially invisible, particularly at the said butt f. At theextremity of said yoke-center opposite to said butt f the said outerlayer b and lining 0 make a short return-bend, thereby forming an eye itfor receiving the bolt 2' of the stirrupj. Said eye is so made that thelining 0 forms the interior surface thereof, thereby greatly lesseningthe wearing effect of the said bolt 11. is made permanent by riveting.The stirrup j above mentioned consists of an approximately U-shaped rodor bar, preferably of metal, so constructed that the said bolt 2' mayextend between the extremities thereof and be removably secured thereto.When the yoke-center a is to be attached to the crossbar 6, theextremity of said center having the eye 7?. is passed around said bar,the lining 0 lying nearest thereto. The loop thus formed is completed bymeans of the stirrup j and bolt 2', said stirrup being attached in sucha manner'as to engage said layer 1) on the outer surface thereof andcause the ex-. tremities of said stirrupto assume a position adjacent tothe extremities of said eye h. The bolt 2' is then passed through saideye h and secured to the said extremities of said stirrup. As thelayers 1) and c are flexible, the stirrupj may slide freely upon theouter surface of the layer 1), and the yoke-center is thereforeadjustable to any size of cross-bar in the usual manner.

I attach particular importance to the use of the metallic lining asabove described, and the advantages of this construction areconsiderable. In the forms of adjustable centers Said eye It Iheretofore in use it has been necessaryin order to obtain the requisitestrength to construct the looped extremity of many layers of leather,usually not less than four. In the four-layer construction the eyeinclosing the removable bolt '5 of the stirrupj is two layers inthickness, a greater thickness being impracticable andsubstantiallyimpossible both on account of the stiffness of the leatherand the lack of space within said stirrup. In order to lie closely uponthe cross-bar and at the same time be adjustable to various sizes ofbars, it is essential that the distance between the bolt 1' and the baseof the U-shaped stirrup j be small. In the four-layer construction thereare necessarily at least six layers within said stirrup between saidbase and said bolt, and this causes a crowding of the parts, so as tointerfere with the sliding of said base upon the outer layer b. By myconstruction little thickness is required at said stirrup j, thusallowing great freedom of operation com bined with reduced dimensions.

The greatest strength of the yoke-center is substantially equal to theresistance of the eye h to the shearing stress of the bolt 1;. By theuse of the metallic lining c it is possible to form said eye it by areturn-bend of both the outer layer 1) and said lining c. This affords astrength at said eye equal to the strength at any portion of saidcenter, whereas in the construction heretofore employed the strength ofthe eye has been of necessity less than the strength at the otherportions of the yoke-center, due to the necessity of de creasedthickness of material inclosing the stirrup-bolt '23. Again, it isdesirable that the yoke-center (0 should lie close upon the crossbar e,and this is attained in a high degree in my device. By the use of saidlining c the process of manufacture is simplified, for the reason thatsaid lining affords sufiicient body to make practicable the use ofrivets for fastening the layers together instead of the stitching, asheretofore.

What I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. An adjustable neck-yoke center consisting of a layer of leather, orsimilar flexible material, and a layer of flexible sheet metal, saidlayers being suitably attached together and bent to form a loop with themetal layer on the inside thereof, and both of said layers being foldedinward upon themselves at the end of said loop to form a metal-linedeye, combined with a metal stirrup the cross-bolt of which passesthrough said eye and the outer bar of which is free to slide or move onthe said leather layer as the loop is tightened around the necloyokecross-bar.

2. In an adjustable neck-yoke center, the combination of strips, onewhereof is of leather, and the second whereof is metallic; said stripsextending throughout the length of the yoke-center and forming ametal-lined eye at one extremity for in closing the stirrupbolt; astirrup and removable stirrup-bolt whereby said center may inclose thecrossbar of a yoke; and a butt, thickened by means of supplementarystrips and having an aperture therein for receiving the pole of avehicle' I CHARLES ll. CARPENTER. itnesses:

CHARLES L. Her-111101;, ARTHUR M. Cox.

